TY - JOUR
T1 - Cognitive functioning in healthy older adults aged 64-81: a cohort study into the effects of age, sex, and education.
AU - van Hooren, S.A.H.
AU - Valentijn, A.M.
AU - Bosma, H.
AU - Ponds, R.W.H.M.
AU - van Boxtel, M.P.J.
AU - Jolles, J.
PY - 2007/1/1
Y1 - 2007/1/1
N2 - The objective of this study was to determine a possible differential effect of age, education, and sex on cognitive speed, verbal memory, executive functioning, and verbal fluency in healthy older adults. A group of 578 healthy participants in the age range of 64-81 was recruited from a large population study of healthy adults (Maastricht Aging Study). Even in healthy individuals in this restricted age range, there is a clear, age-related decrease in performance on executive functioning, verbal fluency, verbal memory, and cognitive speed tasks. The capacity to inhibit information is affected most. Education had a substantial effect on cognitive functioning: participants with a middle or high level of education performed better on cognitive tests than did participants with a low level of education. Women performed better than men on verbal memory tasks. Therefore, education and sex must be taken into account when examining an older individual's cognitive performance.
AB - The objective of this study was to determine a possible differential effect of age, education, and sex on cognitive speed, verbal memory, executive functioning, and verbal fluency in healthy older adults. A group of 578 healthy participants in the age range of 64-81 was recruited from a large population study of healthy adults (Maastricht Aging Study). Even in healthy individuals in this restricted age range, there is a clear, age-related decrease in performance on executive functioning, verbal fluency, verbal memory, and cognitive speed tasks. The capacity to inhibit information is affected most. Education had a substantial effect on cognitive functioning: participants with a middle or high level of education performed better on cognitive tests than did participants with a low level of education. Women performed better than men on verbal memory tasks. Therefore, education and sex must be taken into account when examining an older individual's cognitive performance.
U2 - 10.1080/138255890969483
DO - 10.1080/138255890969483
M3 - Article
C2 - 17164189
SN - 1382-5585
VL - 14
SP - 40
EP - 54
JO - Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition
JF - Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition
IS - 1
ER -